Last year, Malusi Gigaba’s Home Affairs department introduced new visa laws regarding children. Parents were to carry an unabridged birth certificate for their children, or risk being declined entry.

The new visa law was a bid to halt child trafficking. Although, the tourism industry did grimace at the potential loss of revenue.

Two weeks ago, SA Promo Magazine reported that David Frost, of the Southern African Tourism Services Association, had said the following:

“The only way we will actually get the truth to be considered on the issue of unabridged birth certificates is in a court of law”.

Frost reportedly met with the Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, and other senior leaders from the industry. Together, they came up with a number of solutions on the issue of congestion at OR Tambo International Airport.

What Is In The New South African Child Passport?

In a bid to make travelling out of the country easier for families, the Department of Home Affairs has announced they will introduce a new ‘child passport’ in 2017.

The child passport will list both birth parents’ names and cannot be changed. This will remove the need for families to travel with an unabridged birth certificate.

According to DHA Director General, Mkuseli Apleni, the new document will hopefully simplify travel for South Africans abroad. While also working to combat child trafficking in the country.

South Africa currently only offers passports to citizens over 16 years of age. These last for a period of 10 years.

Child passports are also issued for children 15 years or under. But, are non-renewable and require an unabridged certificate to be presented.

The SA tourism industry can hopefully breathe a sigh of relief as holiday makers are no longer deterred by the stress of travelling with their children. And, the tourism industry can continue to thrive and bring much-needed revenue into the country.